Mac Jones and the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 26-23 on Thursday night despite overwhelming odds and an injury-ravaged roster.
The 49ers were without Brock Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, Jordan Watkins, George Kittle, and Nick Bosa. San Francisco also lost two defensive linemen during the game, leaving the team essentially without its entire wide receiver corps and much of its defensive front.
Yet, despite being decimated by injuries, the 49ers pulled out the win with Mac Jones at the helm.
Mac Jones Steps Up When Called Upon
Jones has gone 3-0 as a starter for San Francisco this season with impressive play. He’s averaging 301.7 passing yards per game with six touchdowns and one interception. It’s safe to say Jones has been a brilliant backup quarterback for the 49ers — winning games despite the team’s health crisis is no small feat.
However, the question media and fans are now asking is whether a quarterback controversy is brewing in San Francisco.
Jones has shown he’s one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league and is earning himself a spot on the radar of teams seeking a reclamation project — similar to Geno Smith, Sam Darnold, or Baker Mayfield. What Jones isn’t doing, though, is creating a legitimate case to replace Brock Purdy as the 49ers’ starter.
Brock Purdy’s Rough Stretch
Purdy is currently navigating a difficult stretch in his young career. Over his last five games (three last season and two this season) he’s thrown for nine touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 64.2 percent completion rate — not ideal numbers for a player who once lit up the league.
But it’s important to remember what Purdy has accomplished. He’s already reached a Super Bowl, appeared in two NFC Championship Games, and finished top five in MVP voting.
He’s 4-2 in the playoffs, with one of those losses coming in the NFC Championship Game against when the Eagles injured him on the first play. In essence, he’s 4-1 in playoff games he’s been healthy for — the lone loss being in the Super Bowl against the Chiefs, where he heroically gave San Francisco the lead three different times in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Purdy has proven that he’s not only an elite quarterback but also an elite winner with the intangibles needed to lead a franchise. The 49ers didn’t hand out a five-year, $265 million contract to a system-dependent player. They invested in a quarterback who thrives in the shotgun, reads the field, and delivers passes downfield — not just one who relies on schemed-open receivers or a dominant run game.
In his MVP-caliber season, Purdy led the league in air yards per attempt (9.6), proving he’s more than a game manager. He’s more Brett Favre than Trent Dilfer.
Time for Purdy to Regain His Form
Although Purdy’s job is not in danger, it’s time for him to step up. Turnovers have defined his rough stretch — eight interceptions in five games is unacceptable. He’s looked flustered in the pocket at times recently, something uncharacteristic of his usual poise.
The key for San Francisco now is patience. The 49ers shouldn’t rush Purdy back like they did when he played against the Jaguars while still banged up. With the team sitting at 4-1 and Jones holding down the fort, the 49ers have the luxury of letting Purdy fully recover. That’s crucial — because when healthy, Purdy remains the most important player on the roster and the team’s best chance at another deep playoff run.
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